| Updated: 7/30/2009 8:51 am |
Published: 7/29/2009 9:30 pm |
The Pulaski County Special School District tackled an issue Wednesday night that has stood at the center of controversy for years. Back in September the board voted to let Jacksonville form a new school district but there is still something holding them back.
Attorney John Walker of the Joshua Interveners addressed the board Wednesday night pointing out the district is under court order to desegregate. He says to allow Jacksonville to split into its own district would cause the opposite effect.
It's why board member Charlie Wood wants to do away with even considering drawing Jacksonville boundaries now. “We are really spinning our wheels. We’re addressing a lot of issues that have little practical value. In addition, we’re wasting our time because we need to be focusing on education, discipline so many things,” Wood said.
But at a community meeting at Bayou Meto School last week, parents voted three to one to split. Many people that live in the unincorporated area of Pulaski County, say since they live closer to Jacksonville than Sherwood it would make sense for the Bayou Meto school to be in the Jacksonville district.
PCSSD Board President Tim Clark suggested determining boundaries for a Jacksonville district now so it would be in place once the district reaches desegregation status.
“We want to hear what the residents of Bayou Meto, the residents of Jacksonville and Pulaski County have to say. We want to take that information back and then base our decisions on that because once again we are voted on by the constituents of the district,” Clark said.
But opponents say it's not the time for that discussion.
